Bento PLUS
September 2026
Konnichiwa, AnimeFanatiks!
This September, Bento Plus is playing for keeps, our theme is Anime Death Games, inspired by titles like King’s Game, Btooom, Death Parade, and Danganronpa. Our challenges are all built around this theme, so get ready to test your survival instincts!
Along the way, we talk about delicious Japanese food, have great AMVs, and a variety of yummy content for you to sink your teeth in. Use the menu on the right to easily jump between sections.
We are your monthly source of anime and Japanese news.
Just for you. Itadakimasu!
Upcoming events
Events in Nippon
September is one of the liveliest months in Japan. It combines traditional festivals (matsuri), ancestral observances, spectacular fireworks, and one national holiday.
September 1
Disaster Prevention Day
Location: Nation-wide
Significance: This day commemorates the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake and promotes awareness and preparedness.
September 6
Younger Sister’s Day
Location: Nationwide
Meaning: A quirky observance, celebrating younger sisters and familial bonds.
September 7–9
Kakunodate Festival
Akita
A traditional festival featuring elaborately decorated floats, music and dramatic encounters between floats in the historic town of Kakunodate.
Around September 22–23
Autumnal Equinox Day (Shūbun no Hi, 秋分の日)
Location: Nationwide
This national holiday marks the start of autumn and encourages family gatherings and ancestral remembrance.
September 13–27
Festival: Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament
Location : Tokyo
Event: A major 15-day sumo event at Ryogoku Kokugikan, drawing wrestling fans nationwide.
SA Events
Comic Con Africa 2026
DATE: 24 to 27 September 2026
Venue: Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec)
Game of the month
Fields of Mistria: A Charming Farming RPG Full of Magic
Introduction
Fields of Mistria is a charming farming and life simulation RPG developed by NPC Studio. Inspired by beloved games such as Stardew Valley, it combines farming, exploration, crafting, romance and fantasy into a colourful adventure. With its nostalgic pixel-art style and relaxed pace, the game offers plenty for players who enjoy cosy gaming experiences.
Overview
In Fields of Mistria, players arrive in a small town struggling to recover from an earthquake. Your character is tasked with helping restore the community while developing an abandoned farm. Players can grow crops, raise animals, fish, mine, forage and craft useful items. As the farm and town develop, new areas and activities gradually become available.
Magic adds another layer to the gameplay. Players can unlock magical abilities and discover the mysteries surrounding Mistria while building relationships with the town’s colourful residents. Romance is also available, giving players opportunities to develop deeper connections with various characters.
Pros:
Beautiful pixel art: The retro-inspired visuals give the game a distinctive and appealing style.
Relaxing gameplay: Farming, fishing and decorating provide plenty of low-pressure activities.
Strong character interactions: The townspeople have personalities, stories and evolving relationships.
Fantasy elements: Magic and exploration help distinguish it from more traditional farming simulators.
Lots to do: Farming, mining, fishing, crafting and exploration provide considerable variety.
Cons:
Slow pacing: Players looking for constant action may find the relaxed progression too leisurely.
Repetitive routines: Farming and resource gathering can become familiar after extended play.
Early-access limitations: Content and features may change as development continues.
Conclusion:
Fields of Mistria is an enchanting farming RPG that successfully combines cosy simulation with fantasy adventure. Its gorgeous pixel art, charming characters and magical world make it an appealing choice for fans of farming games and life simulators. While its leisurely pace and repetitive routines may not suit everyone, Fields of Mistria offers a warm, engaging experience for players looking to escape into a wonderfully whimsical world.
Wild Blue Skies: Take to the Skies in This Exciting Adventure Introduction
Introduction
Wild Blue Skies is an engaging game that invites players to explore the freedom and excitement of life among the clouds. Combining exploration, adventure and aerial action, the game offers a colourful experience for players looking for something different from traditional ground-based adventures. Its focus on open skies and discovery creates an appealing sense of freedom.
Overview:
At the heart of Wild Blue Skies is the thrill of exploring a vast aerial environment. Players can travel through the skies, encounter new locations and face challenges along the way. The emphasis on movement and exploration gives the game its distinctive identity, while its adventurous atmosphere encourages players to investigate what lies beyond the horizon.
The game’s concept makes it particularly appealing to fans of exploration games, aerial adventures and open-world experiences. Rather than simply following a linear path, players are encouraged to enjoy the journey and discover the world around them.
Its accessible premise also makes Wild Blue Skies an interesting choice for gamers who enjoy experiences built around exploration rather than complicated mechanics. The combination of freedom, discovery and adventure provides plenty of opportunities for memorable moments.
Conclusion:
Wild Blue Skies is an appealing adventure for players who enjoy exploration and the excitement of travelling through expansive environments. Its emphasis on aerial discovery gives it a distinctive identity and creates a refreshing change of pace. For fans searching for an exploration game with an adventurous spirit, Wild Blue Skies offers an experience worth checking out.
Itadakimasu Eats
Nekomanma: Japan’s Comforting Rice-and-Cat Tradition
Nekomanma (猫まんま) is a simple Japanese comfort food made by adding toppings to a bowl of steamed rice. The name literally combines neko (cat) and manma, a childish word for food or eating, giving it the charming meaning of “cat food.” Despite the name, nekomanma is enjoyed by humans and has long been associated with inexpensive, home-style meals.
There are two common versions. In eastern Japan, nekomanma is often rice topped with katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and soy sauce. The heat from the rice gently warms the bonito flakes, releasing their smoky, savoury aroma. In western Japan, the term can refer to rice served with miso soup poured over it, creating a quick and comforting rice dish.
Nekomanma is not generally considered fancy cuisine. Instead, its appeal lies in simplicity, affordability and nostalgia. It is the kind of meal that can be prepared when you want something warm without much effort.
The dish also offers a fascinating glimpse into Japanese food culture, where rice, seasonal ingredients and simple preparation can transform everyday leftovers into something satisfying. For anyone exploring Japanese cuisine, nekomanma is a delicious example of comfort food at its most uncomplicated.
New AMV's & Wotagei
Every month, the AnimeFanatika team dives headfirst into the YouTube universe, hunting for the hottest, most rocking AMVs to blow your mind, as well as Wotagei videos.
Takeshi's Tunes
Ookami's Tunes
Daisuke Tunes
Retara's Tunes
Our correspondence from Japan shares with us these impressive Wotagei videos.
Please support the original music artists by looking them up on YouTube, Spotify and other media and give them your appreciation and support!
Birthday of the Month
Emilia,from Re-Zero: Starting Life in Another World
Birthday: September 23
First Anime Appearance: Re-Zero: Starting Life in Another World Ep. 1 “The End of the Beginning and the Beginning of the End” (2016)
Emilia, the Half-Elf protagonist of Re-Zero: Starting Life in Another World, is one of the series’ most beloved characters. Known as the Witch of Glaciation, she possesses powerful fire magic and spirit arts involving water, wind and earth.
Raised by her aunt in an isolated elfin village, Emilia experienced a lonely childhood and learned to summon Lesser Spirits, or “fairies,” for companionship. Her abilities eventually attracted the Witch of Vainglory, whose attack resulted in her aunt’s death. Emilia defeated the Witch before unintentionally freezing herself and the Elior Forest in ice.
After seven years of hibernation, Emilia awakens and meets Puck. She later receives support from Roswaal L. Mathers and becomes a candidate to rule the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica.
Author Tappei Nagatsuki has said Emilia was one of the inspirations behind Re-Zero: Starting Life in Another World, making her central to the series’ creation and enduring popularity.
She shares her birth month with:
Boa Hancock – One Piece
Kakashi Hatake – Naruto
September Anime Challenge
Ousama Game The Animation: A Twisted Game of Survival
Ousama Game The Animation, also known as King’s Game The Animation, is a psychological horror anime based on the manga adaptation of Nobuaki Kanazawa’s Ousama Game series. Released in 2017, the 12-episode series combines mystery, supernatural horror and survival-game elements as a group of high school students are forced into a terrifying contest.
The story follows Nobuaki Kanazawa, a teenager who transfers to a new school while trying to escape the trauma of a previous King’s Game. His classmates soon receive mysterious messages from someone calling themselves the “King.” Each participant is given an order that must be completed within a specific time limit. Refusing to obey carries increasingly horrifying consequences, while the orders become more cruel and dangerous as the game progresses.
One of the anime’s biggest strengths is its atmosphere. King’s Game creates a constant sense of paranoia as friendships collapse and students struggle to determine who, if anyone, can be trusted. The mystery surrounding the King also encourages viewers to keep watching for answers.
However, the series can be divisive. Its extreme violence and melodramatic storytelling will appeal to fans of survival horror, but some viewers may find the character development and pacing uneven.
Overall, Ousama Game The Animation is a bleak and disturbing addition to the death-game genre, best suited to viewers who enjoy supernatural mysteries, psychological horror and high-stakes survival stories.
Light novel of the Month
I Play Death Games to Put Food on the Table: A Deadly Profession
I Play Death Games to Put Food on the Table is a Japanese light novel that combines fantasy, action and deadly game mechanics with an unexpectedly practical motivation: earning enough money to survive. Rather than entering dangerous battles for glory or adventure, the protagonist approaches death games as a job.
The story follows a young man who becomes involved in a world where participating in lethal games is a legitimate way to make a living. Faced with the everyday problem of paying for food and other necessities, he accepts increasingly dangerous challenges where failure can mean death. His pragmatic attitude creates an entertaining contrast with the high-stakes situations surrounding him.
One of the light novel’s appealing features is its approach to the familiar death-game genre. Instead of focusing exclusively on survival, it asks what would happen if someone treated deadly competitions as ordinary employment. The protagonist’s priorities, decision-making and willingness to take risks provide plenty of opportunities for dark humour alongside the action.
The series also explores the harsh realities of its setting, where survival can depend on skill, strategy and knowing when to take a calculated risk.
For readers who enjoy fantasy light novels, survival games, antiheroes and dark humour, I Play Death Games to Put Food on the Table offers a distinctive spin on the increasingly popular death-game formula.
All about Japan
All About Japan shows you interesting journeys, interviews or just trivia that teach us more about the Land of The Rising Sun and its people. Enjoy the videos as we take a deeper dive into what makes Japan such a beloved country for many from some of our favourite YouTubers.
Cosplay
In our first video cosplayer Aeon teaches us how to become the epic Gaara from Naruto and the we watch the cosplay antics at Otakon 2026.
Japanese Art Forms
Tenkoku: The Ancient Japanese Art of Seal Carving
Tenkoku (篆刻) is the traditional art of carving characters, names and designs into small stones or other materials to create personal seals. Pronounced ten-koku, the term literally refers to “seal engraving” and is closely connected with the history of East Asian calligraphy. Although often associated with China, tenkoku became an important part of Japanese artistic and literary culture.
Traditional tenkoku uses a small carving knife to engrave characters into a seal stone. The artist must carefully consider the shape of each character, the balance of the composition and whether the design will be carved in yang (positive) or yin (negative) form. The finished seal can then be covered with vermilion-red ink and pressed onto paper.
In Japan, these seals are frequently seen alongside calligraphy, paintings and other artworks. An artist’s seal can function almost like a signature, while personal seals may feature a person’s name, artistic name or an auspicious phrase.
One of the fascinating aspects of tenkoku is the relationship between writing and sculpture. The artist is not simply copying characters but transforming them into a carefully balanced visual design.
Today, tenkoku remains a specialised traditional art form, practised by calligraphers, artists and enthusiasts. For anyone interested in Japanese culture, calligraphy and traditional crafts, tenkoku offers a fascinating glimpse into an art where words literally become carved works of art.
Japanese Commercials
Japanese commercials are out of this world sometimes, strange and fun. We share with you a highly entertaining Japanese commercial video and we hope you enjoy it!
Sugoi Shorts
We share fun YouTube shorts about anime, cosplay, music and everything inbetween!